Beginners Tips: Jan 2010

I often times read through the new threads and posts and notice trends..

Here are some tips for beginners following the trends that I have noticed in the last month or so...

Learn to shave first, then learn to hone, there is just to much information overload to try and do both at the beginning...

Stay away from E-bay until you feel so comfortable as to buy a razor or a stone without having to ask for an opinion or advice..

Buy a shave ready razor, and buy it from a source that you truly believe that the statement "shave ready" means something.. The statement, "I can shave with it" means little... Heck I have shaved with a razor off a 1k stone just to prove a point doesn't mean you can.. A confident hand can shave a much duller razor than you can..

There really are very, very, very, few true steals on hones on E-bay...

There are very, very, very, few good hones on E-bay period

If there is a good hone on E-bay trust me here, most of the Hone Hounds know it is there, and the bidding doesn't even count till the last 10 seconds..

Stropping is the most important new skill you have to learn, not honing..

Buy a good solid strop, I always advise Linen and Leather but the linen is JMHO not everyone's

Map your face before you ever get you first straight razor.. WTG ATG & XTG are actually different form N-S and E-W strokes you have to figure out which direction goes with each part of your face...And more importantly how you are going to manage to get the edge of the SR to move across the S T R E C H E D skin smoothly and at the right angle...

PREP!!!! yeah it really does make a huge difference and heck it is a ton of fun...

Before buying a hone of any type read the Wiki, in there you will find some articles about deciding what your use will be, that will help to determine the right stone(s) for you... Everyone does not need a set of Shaptons or a Japanese Natural... Read the threads in the honing section that ask "What hone should I buy" and realize that 99% of the people answering are only recommending what they use...

I hope I might have answered a question for you...

Stellar stuff. I think we should amend both the FAQ and the "What hone(s) do I need?) Wiki article accordingly.

Regards,
Robin

Glen - Great post and terrific stuff. Concise no BS advice based on solid experience.

BeBerlin - a big +1

OK I even linked the article I was referring to :) yes amazing I did a Wiki link....Don't everyone fall off their chair at once...

Glen,

As a newbie myself, I can say you are right on the mark. This is a job where patience is king. Have it, find it or forget it.

David

Good advice.

Well done Glen!! We should bump this thread once a month, maybe once a week. It will be very helpful to those just starting out and they won't have to search far.

GREAT advice and if followed will make the whole begginers experience 1000% better and much less frustrating !

Outstanding article Glenn

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK I even linked the article I was referring to :) yes amazing I did a Wiki link....Don't everyone fall off their chair at once...

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We are Wiki of Borg. You will be assimilated.

What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki should be much better now. Thanks!

Quit testing the edge, testing the edge is for those honing the razor, if your not honing razors the only test you need to know how to do is the shave test and make sure you study up for it before taking that test...

Want to dull that sweet edge that you just paid to have put on there, go ahead and test it... If you just have to have an idea of what those tests feel like, buy some DE blades and do the tests on them...

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Quit testing the edge, testing the edge is for those honing the razor, if your not honing razors the only test you need to know how to do is the shave test and make sure you study up for it before taking that test...

Want to dull that sweet edge that you just paid to have put on there, go ahead and test it... If you just have to have an idea of what those tests feel like, buy some DE blades and do the tests on them...

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This is such good advice! I have seen lots of posts where a new guy did a TNT on a shave ready blade:gaah:

The shave test is the one that counts

Thanks for the thread glen, great stuff sticky perhaps?

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Originally Posted by Del1r1um

Thanks for the thread glen, great stuff sticky perhaps?

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I kinda liked Joed's idea of making either a new one every month or perhaps just bumping this one every now and then....

Stickies seem to get ignored :)
The one at the top of the Workshop is a prime example, that thing has an answer to every single question that gets asked in that forum... LOL

Great advice, thanks for putting it together!

I'd say make this a sticky - but is there any way threads like this, the Beginner's Guide, and some of the other threads like "Anticipation" by Lynn can be made more obvious on the home page? Almost like a permanent "Hey New Guy (or Girl)!" button on the front page. You can put links to all of this stuff in one spot and have a place for signing up right there. It might be convenient for those not familiar with the site.

If I may add, for those who want to hone their razors, be sure to hone pre-owned inexpensive but quality razors ( not saying go balls out on ebay-there are $30-$40 razors that can be had on Classifieds from reliable members. These in general are shave-ready ( mentioned on ad ). When it comes time to hone, by then you should be proficient in shaving, stropping, prep etc...

I grabbed a couple pre-owned from classifieds at same time I got my straight. In any case, some pre-owned razors need work while other don't. Mine needed some work and I learned off of those using new razor as benchmark for reference. That's what worked for me. I have everyone here to thank for.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I kinda liked Joed's idea of making either a new one every month or perhaps just bumping this one every now and then....

Stickies seem to get ignored :)
The one at the top of the Workshop is a prime example, that thing has an answer to every single question that gets asked in that forum... LOL

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I'm all for a sticky. If they ignore it, it's their loss. I as well as many others benefited from it. I especially enjoyed the favourite honing threads. :beer:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK I even linked the article I was referring to :) yes amazing I did a Wiki link....Don't everyone fall off their chair at once...

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:bow:bow:bow

I broke the Wiki once. Lucky, guys like BeBerlin can fix it :D

Well, he was right about shaptons and ebay. :)

Such a great advice. I got so obsessed I didn't realize those tests were also dulling the edge of my Friodur.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I kinda liked Joed's idea of making either a new one every month or perhaps just bumping this one every now and then....

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Apparently every now and then is every 6 years.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Apparently every now and then is every 6 years.

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I actually did over 3 years worth Ron all by myself

Straight Razor Place - Monthly Beginner's Tips